Shutdown Showdown: Who’s to Blame?

Regardless of their party affiliation, House Budget Committee members agree they don't want to see the government shut down. But they don't agree on who is to blame if it happens.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., one of three Appropriations Designees on the House Budget Committee, is pointing the finger at his colleagues on the other side of the aisle. "We're here because the Democrats didn't get their work done last year. Never passed a budget, never passed any appropriations bill and frankly we are here right now because the Senate hasn't gotten its job done," said Cole during a Sunday interview with Fox News.

Cole added, "The House has passed a bill which keeps the government open and reduces spending substantially by $61 billion. We think that's the way we ought to go."

Another member of the Budget Committee, Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisc., says she can't support the cuts passed by the Republican-controlled House.

"These cuts would amount to a loss of 700,000 jobs and I don't think that's a real choice for me," Moore told Fox News.

Still, the Wisconsin Democrat says she doesn't think any of her colleagues would like to see Congress close its doors.

Cole agrees, saying he hopes a shutdown can be avoided, and is looking ahead to another battle looming. "Our aim is to reduce spending and keep the government running and move on to the bigger debate which I think will start on Tuesday," said the Oklahoma Republican.

That "bigger debate" is the budget for fiscal year 2012. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., plans to lay out his proposed budget on April 12th.